Mobility a focus for new WHA leader

Published 1:38 pm, Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Perri D'Armond, the new president of the West Houston Association, at the association's offices Friday Nov.15,2013. (Dave Rossman photo)

Perri D'Armond, the new president of the West Houston Association, at the association's offices Friday Nov.15,2013. (Dave Rossman photo)

Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance

Mobility a focus for new WHA leader

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West Houston Association's new president and CEO Perri D'Armond's credentials in transportation and governmental relations were among the qualities that brought the group's board members knocking when they were searching to fill the position.

The Memorial-area resident was serving as vice president of government relations for the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council - a position she'd held for 15 years. Before that, she was projects director at the Westchase District, a four-square-mile municipal management district centered at Westheimer and Beltway 8.

"It gave me a chance to meet people locally and get my foot back into public policy," she said of her job with the district. "I had the opportunity to work on a variety of issues - mainly transportation."

When WHA's previous leader, Roger Hord, announced his retirement earlier in the year after being in the post since 1999, D'Armond's familiarity with local infrastructure issues attracted the attention of that group, which is comprised of major developers, landowners, employers and service firms dedicated to quality growth in a region that extends from Sugar Land in the south to Spring/Tomball in the north and from the Bunker Hill area to Brookshire.

But when in college, D'Armond was headed in a different path. Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, she won a scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and attended Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and a master's degree in agricultural development.

"I thought I was going to be a teacher," she said.

Then the opportunity became available to work in the chancellor's office, which opened the door to an internship in Washington, D.C.

She worked as a legislative assistant to the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Agriculture from 1989 to 1994. She also met her husband Dan in D.C. and later had her first child.

After five years, she said, "It was time to come home."

She took the position at the Westchase District and then moved to the economic development council.

"I loved it," she said of her job with the council. "It was a great place for me. I spent a lot of time learning from some of the best people about transportation and drainage."

She said the position also provided a chance to enhance her knowledge of air quality, education and environmental issues. D'Armond also formed strategic partnerships with many Fort Bend stakeholders, including the WHA.

"When Grand Parkway opened in Fort Bend, I got to really see from the sideline what a difference it could make," she said. "And we were making it work for our advantage, so we could get quality development out there."

D'Armond, who assumed her new job on Nov. 11, predicts that WHA's region will see more mixed-use development like CityCentre, which features both company offices, restaurants and retail establishments.

WHA board chairman Peter Houghton said the group was looking for a new leader who knew the area.

"The board felt we should focus on local talent that would understand Houston's unique approach to growth," he said. "We found out very few people had all of the characteristics we wanted. We were worried we'd have to look outside the city - but we found the ideal candidate in our backyard."

A few board members approached D'Armond about the opening and eventually convinced her that she had the right qualifications, she said.

"They asked, 'Are you willing to even discuss this?' After several conversations, it just seemed like the right thing to do," she said. "It was a good fit."

"We're looking forward to Perri coming on and providing a reinvigorated enthusiasm and effort to our organization," Houghton said. "It's always good to have someone with fresh eyes - and we're very pleased we found someone like Perri."